i Run Like a Girl Skirt and Shirt

I had the opportunity recently to test some super cool products from iRunLikeAGirl. They have a great selection of lady specific running gear, with their uber cute logo on them. I was sent a girly skirt and sleeveless shirt to try out.

I am coo-coo for running skirts, but very picky about them at the same time. I prefer a brief underneath, so when I saw that their skirts didn’t fool around with those stoooopid boy-shorts, I was ecstatic!!!! I mean really, what is the point in 2 inch shorts unless you have twiggy legs? Lets face it, most of our “pigs” rub together and cause the, most unflattering and uncomfortable, “crotch eating your shorts” phenomenon. I HATE it!!! What I initially loved about this skirt (after the brief issue of course) was the cute ruffle detail, athletic with a kick of girly-ness. The skirt I was sent to test did NOT have a pocket, but I was told that the ones up for sale now do. But I do not really utilize pockets to their fullest potential, so no biggie to me. I’ve worn this during a 6 mile trail run and a 4 mile road run….both of which were brutally hot. The skirt did not bunch, twist, pinch, rub, or irritate any part of my derrière, mucho comfortable. I LOVE that the elastic of the waist band is sewn down. Another skirt I have, the elastic in the waist band is not sewn down and it is constantly flipping….irritating!!!! I was drenched with sweat by the end of both runs and the fabric managed not to chafe me at all. It fits pretty true to size, I wear a big 6 small 8 (I know you know what that means ladies!) and I wore a medium in the skirt.

The shirt is equally as fabulous. It is slim cut shirt for women, but not fitted or compression like. It does not ride up at all, wicks away the sweat like a good shirt should, and does not chafe or irritate at all. I will, however, say that I wish I had gotten a size smaller. But this is my fault really. I should know by now that most non-compression running shirts run a little big. I normally wear a small or a small fitting medium (again you ladies know what I mean). But for some reason I told them I needed a medium shirt. So it probably does fit pretty true to size, I was just the dummy who asked for the wrong size…..duh!!! It has their cute little logo on the front and it says “iRUNLIKEAGIRL” on the back (this is my favorite part, I wear it proudly!!!) So order the smallest size that you think you should wear.

Gu

The nice folks over at Outside PR sent me some Gu products to try. I have been experimenting with different products and am now reporting back to the masses……all 13 of my loyal readers!!! When people think about Gu the first thing that comes to mind is probably GEL….but Gu is soooo much more than just the energy gel!!!! Visit {this} page for some interesting FAQ about all the Gu products

Gu gel…..strange and funny stuff. You will NEVER forget your first gel experience….you can never be quite prepared for it can you ??? I tried Gu gel several months ago when my mileage started ramping up. I knew I needed the electrolytes, but I’m very sensitive to fluctuating glucose levels, so that was my main reason for trying it. When the glucose starts running out……..all hell breaks loose for me. The gel did the job for me for a while, and the caffeinated packs really added some pep in my step. I will spare you the details, but I soon found out that gel + running is just not for me, but I did enjoy it while I used it. The flavors were, in general, pretty good with vanilla, chocolate, and espresso love being my favorites. I know Gu gel works for TONS of people, but sadly it does not work for me. I SO wish it did, because its the most convenient thing I have found to carry during a run and easy to get down. Maybe one day I will be able to gel again.

Up next were the Gu Chomps. Honestly I have yet to try them during a run. After having the “issues” with the gel, I was a little afraid the Chomps would do the same thing. I mainly eat them for snacks or eat them post run for the electrolytes. They are really tasty, I LOVE the cran-apple flavor. They are pretty sticky and gummy and get stuck in my teeth. But I think they would work pretty well on a run, no after taste, not overly sweet. I may be brave and try some during a run soon.

Now, I really like the Gu Electrolyte Brew!! I had been using a tablet form of electrolytes during long runs, but the pseudo-carbonation the tabs created got on my nerves. This is just a powder you mix in, shake and drink. Yum-O!!!! All the flavors were great. I was skeptical about the blueberry-pomegranate flavor but it ended up being my favorite, very light and refreshing. I will definitely be getting some more of this stuff!!!!

And finally the Gu Recovery Brew. I had been using good ol’ chocolate milk for my recovery drink. I was very excited to try this stuff because I am never happy about the amount of fat in chocolate milk. There is ZERO fat in the recovery brew, just 250 calories and 8 grams of protein, plus all the other necessary amounts of electrolytes. I do wish it came in more flavors. Right now it only comes in strawberry-watermelon and orange-pineapple. The orange-pineapple was my favorite of the two. It goes down pretty easy, a little thicker than the electrolyte brew, but not heavy or overly filling like milk can be.

Nuu-Muu Running Dress

I found a company called Nuu-Muu through a blog I follow (you may be familiar with her too), the absolutely adorable, and hard-core barefoot runner…..Barefoot Angie Bee. Nuu-Muu makes some super sassy little exercise dresses. Angie hosted a Nuu-Muu giveaway last week and I was so intrigued by their product I had to contact them. I got an almost instantaneous reply from Enid at Nuu-Muu who was kind enough to send me a dress to try out. I was super impressed by the AWESOME communication with Enid, super fast and helpful……they have some GREAT customer service at Nuu-Muu!!!! I also really love their philosophy. Just an overall great company!!!!

I had a really hard time choosing which dress I wanted, they are so cute…..I want them ALL!!!! But I finally chose the “Soiree” dress. A purplish dress with white and pinkish dots. I thought the pattern would be super flattering and hide the “mommy belly” a little better than a solid color. When I pulled the dress out of the package, I could hardly wait to put it on. The material is so soft and silky, and feels soooooo good on. Very flowy but fitted in all the right spots.

It fits very true to size. I wear a 6-8 and chose a medium. I am, however, 6 ft tall and this dress is a bit short on me. I must wear compression shorts under it if I do anything other than run in it………as in going to the grocery store, picking up the kid from school, etc….anything where I don’t want to show off London and France (see picture below). Otherwise I think I could get away with just runderwear (my term for running underwear aka; rundies) I honestly would wear this dress most places, its just that cute!!! When I first put it on, I was a little shocked by the shortness, but then when I compared it to my running skirts I realized it was the pretty much the same length. I think the length just felt different because it is a dress.

How does it perform you ask???? Like a dream!!! I’ve worn it on two different runs this past week, one with and one without my hydration belt. I was worried the hydration belt would cause the dress to ride up, but it stayed put the whole time. It does an excellent job of wicking the sweat away and keeping me cool and dry (well, relatively dry, in this heat and humidity you are never completely dry). It is super comfortable while running, no scratchiness anywhere from seams or tags, no tugging or pulling on the dress to keep it in the right place either. That’s the beauty of the dress, no more of that awkward “shirt riding up exposing the belly” phenomenon going on. I felt super confident in it the whole run (even with the back flying up showing my shorts!!!).

I can’t wait until Fall and Winter, this little puppy is going to be so cute with some long tights or capri tights underneath it. It is super sassy…..and I dare say, a little sexy. And we all know feeling good in what you work-out in is essential. Of course, I am primarily a runner, but this would be a perfect outfit for tennis, walking, hiking, golf, biking, swimsuit cover-up, yoga……the possibilities are endless!!!!

‘Channeling my inner barefoot runner’

So my verdict for Nuu-Muu running dresses???? 150% two (very enthusiastic) Thumbs Up! Love them, can’t wait to get some more!!!!